A Home for all Seasons Book Review

Guest Author - Connie Krochmal

With a rich abundance of fresh flowers during the summer months, itís only natural that our interest in floral design seems to intensify. We want to make full use of whatever is available not only from our cutting gardens but also from farmersís markets and farm stands as well.

Now thereís a book to help you use the richness of the season in seasonal displays. ďA Home for All SeasonsĒ by Kristin Perers with photos by James Merrell was published by Ryland Peters and Small. The author begins with a chapter on each of the four seasons, and urges readers to take their cues from nature, which will help to define the individuality of seasonal displays in the home. Perers explains how to make full use of the intensity seen in seasonal colors, along with tips on employing texture and natural fragrance of the various seasons in appropriate ways throughout our home.

Throughout the book, there are quick and easy ideas for using flowers and other plants as well as other natural materials that will help make your home a peaceful place in every season.

Among the floral displays are simple wreaths, bouquets, and everlastings. For spring, there are forced stems, and for fall gorgeous foliage in autumnal tones. In addition, there are intriguing, quick and easy designs the author calls seasonal still lifes. The author also urges readers to make full use of each seasonís abundance with designs that use fruits, dried pods, and berries along with other seasonal materials. In some cases, the author uses the same space and illustrates how the display can be changed in the various seasons to achieve a totally different look. This is done by changing the flowers, plants, and accents in the room.

This book contains a special section for floral design, and features various kinds of floral related projects, such as a mirror decorated with seasonal blossoms.

The author devotes sections of the book to the different rooms and areas of the house, and contains a rich array of displays for each one.